Commentary

I’m not alone

Airman 1st Class Jonathan Bass 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C.†-†Toughen up, develop a thick skin, don’t let people see that you’re hurting; I’ve heard these phrases my entire life, from parents, coaches, family members, friends, and supervisors. The result, I hurt; but I don’t show it.

I know that I’m not alone either, now I’m going to show my hurt.

I am incredibly proud to wear this uniform. Taking my oath of enlistment last year was one of the happiest days of my life. Despite how frustrating and even terrifying basic training was at times, the joy I felt when I received my Airman’s coin or marching in parade made it all worth it.

But I also struggle with anxiety and depression. There are days where I feel so low that I don’t even feel worthy of putting on this uniform.

I don’t consider myself a suicidal person, I’m too scared of pain to take my own life, but there are times where I just wish I could pass away in my sleep. Escape the pain, erase the heartache.

Fortunately I know that isn’t a viable option. It’s just running away from your troubles, rather than confronting them head-on.

It’s hard even dealing with the fact that I struggle with depression. I think the hardest part about dealing with my depression is just coming out and saying that I’m hurting. Well that’s not an excuse now.

We call ourselves Warrior Airmen. What kind of warrior would I be if I just quit? What kind of Airman would I be if I decided to say, “Screw it, let somebody else now deal with the pain of losing me.”

The answer is obvious: I wouldn’t be a warrior or an Airman, let alone a Warrior Airman.

It still doesn’t get rid of the hurt. It doesn’t ‘re-blue’ me. It doesn’t make me want to jump out of bed on the tough mornings, climb into my uniform with a hop in my step, and go to work.

So what does help? I count my blessings to start.

I know that I’m blessed: blessed with a full-time job, a place to sleep, a place to eat, a car to drive home in, a family who loves me, friends who support me. I know I’m blessed with health care; that if I get sick all I have to do is call the clinic and schedule a time to see my doctor. The Air Force has seen to it that all my needs are taken care of, almost free of charge to me.

I also have the ability to talk to people when I’m struggling. I know I can call a chaplain and they’ll listen to my ramblings and be able to assist me when I struggle. I have good leadership, if I have an issue I know I can run it through my chain of command and they’ll do whatever they can to help me. I have friends who have been in similar spots, who know what I’m feeling, fellow Airmen who can direct me, who will listen to me. There’s also mental health, I know I can go over there and talk to someone if need be. No one but yourself and the doctor you speak to will know that you chose to come to them, there’s no stigma, no repercussions.

I also have my faith. This is just my opinion but it’s what really works for me; my faith gets me through. I won’t dive into details regarding my beliefs; this isn’t the venue for that. Find something for you to believe in; whether it is a god, or the flying spaghetti monster, or even just your family. Having something bigger than myself to believe in, to trust in, to hope in; that gets me through.

That’s just me though.

Maybe there’s a way that I can have tough skin and still address the fact that I’m hurting. Having tough skin isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Being resilient means that you’re able to let things roll off you, bounce off your tough skin. Maybe it doesn’t mean being shut out to the world, but rather not allowing the world to affect you in the first place.

My hope here is that maybe because I’m hurting, and I can come out and say I’m hurting, that someone else would find the courage in themselves to step forward and say you’re hurting, and you need help.

That instead of being scared of dealing with the pain and doing something foolish like committing suicide, that you would act more like a Warrior Airman and get the help you need.

My issues aren’t finished yet. I don’t know when they will be, often it seems like I’m traveling through a dark tunnel; I can see the light at the end, but the tunnel also just seems to get longer.

But I’m working through my issues, getting the help I need so that I can help you when you need it.

There are many ways for you to get help and work through your issues. I choose to count my blessings, speak to a chaplain and trust my faith, and know through faith that something better is around the bend, just out of sight for right now; that gets my through. Find what works for you; get involved in intramurals, volunteer at a homeless shelter, speak to your supervisor, talk to your friends, call your parents, go to mental health, find a chaplain, even just look up at the night sky on a clear night and count the stars and glimpse at how far this universe extends. Do whatever it takes to perservere the hurt, because the hurt won’t last forever.

Library closure The Base Library will be closing early Feb. 28 for an official function. Hours of operation will be 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day. For more information, call 661-275-2665. Blood drive The next American Red Cross Blood Drive on Edwards AFB is 10 a.m.-4 p.m., March 4 in the Chapel 1 Annex. Both...

Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted Harvard-trained historian Carter Woodson. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially...

Nomination packages for majors and major-selects interested in the Defense Department 2015-2016 Executive Leadership Development Program are due to the Air Force Personnel Center by March 16, officials announced. The program, designed specifically for highly motivated officers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership ability, commitment to public service and integrity, and who have an inter...

Air Force photograph by Bobbi Zapka Edwards AFB is home to the U.S. Air Force C-12 school house. Referred to as a split school house, when an individual is assigned to fly an Air Force C-12 Huron, they spend three weeks in Alab...

Air Force photograph by Jim Varhegyi Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III answers a question about the fiscal year 2016 President’s Budget request during a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on D...

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service made dreams come true for three grand-prize winners of the MILITARY STAR® “Your Holiday Bill Is On Us” sweepstakes—and for one young Soldier from Fort Bliss, winning has changed her life. As a grand-prize winner, Sgt. Kakala Loketi had her MILITARY STAR® account paid in full. During a...

Information

Publisher

The Desert Wings is published by Aerotech News and Review, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with the installation commander. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services.

Disclaimer

Editorial content is edited, prepared, and provided by the 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Office.
Contents of the Desert Wings are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force.